A look at the value of music (especially congregational) from the perspectives of ones who are both extremely talented and spiritually sensitive. ( )

A fantastic resource for churches and families who want to worship together. Laypersons and leaders alike can benefit from this book! ( )

Excellent! Esthétique très bien balancé entre lyric et musique. L’importance de parole profonde et significative n’est pas au détriment de beau arrangements musicals et d’une mélodie entraînante, et vice-versa. Malgré le danger, dont nous sommes affligés de nos jours, d’utiliser les émotions pour un bénéfice égoïste ou même des fins malsaines, les auteurs en soulèvent leurs importances et les bénéfices. Bien présenté et facile à lire pour n’importe qui, même un enfant. ( )

Our homegroup meets weekly. We choose and went through this book, chapter by chapter, stopping at chapter 7. I went on to read the next chapter 'Postlude: Will You Sing?', which I thought was the best chapter. I also thumbed through additional chapters, called 'Bonus Tracks'. There were bonus tracks for Pastors, Worship Leaders, musician and song writers (the creatives).

When the book was introduced to us for study, I was very reluctant, like one other person in the group. I been to churches with 'standard', habitual singing, and churches where the Spirit was present during the service, including the worship and singing. My pastor from one of the churches I attended would sing from the pulpit, facing the congregation, eyes tightly shut. It broke his heart to see people in the congregation not singing! This book explores the need and importance for congregational singing.

Why would I be uncomfortable with this book on singing? My concern was that the book would reek of legalism, making claims that shouldn't be made, or twisting scripture. I AM very glad I was WRONG!

The book was excellent when it came to being used as a study by our group. Questions at the end of each chapter brought out different thoughts concerning what scripture said concerning singing. Being mindful of our worship time, purposeful, why singing was important to ourselves, the church and those in the congregation. There was a lot to be gleamed. Keith and Kristen Getty do practice what they preach. While I had not heard of them, a few at our church did. A couple of weeks ago, we installed a new pastor at our church. Different people offered congratulations, prayer and thanksgiving for our church, and our leadership, and there was Keith and Kristen, who sang a song Kristen wrote, offering praise to our holy God and describing the blessings of his (God's) love.

Don’t hesitate to pick this book up and read it. We are always striving to glorify God with our lives, and this book offers dozens of steps towards that goal. The book would remind us of what we should already know, and how singing is what is needed for the proper Glorification of God.

Oh my, I bought this book and owe no one a review except to glorify God by pointing to Him in everything I do. ( )

What an encouragement to be told that Christians must sing: for the Gettys, congregational singing is both privilege and obligation. They point to many places in the Bible where we are commanded to sing, and, while conceding a place in worship for song as performance, their focus in Sing! is on the central place of congregational singing.

The Gettys make a living from writing and performing songs and encouraging the Body of Christ in music. Many of us have sung their In Christ Alone, an example of a singable melody and strong Biblical content. The chapter headings of Sing! assert that we are created to sing, commanded to sing and compelled to sing. We are to sing with heart and mind, with our family and with our local church. They write of the radical witness when congregations sing, and in a series of ‘bonus tracks’ provide checklists for pastors and elders, for worship and song leaders, for musicians and for songwriters and ‘creatives’.

Each chapter is followed by questions for reflection or discussion in a study group. Sing! would work well as a book club discussion, or a study for the whole congregation.

Sing! invites Christians to consider the first principles of congregational singing. It critiques performances that do not help the congregation to sing. The Gettys affirm the wisdom of a familiar repertoire, limiting the number of new songs and hymns.

In many congregations the idea that singing is compulsory will be controversial. As a musician and priest, however, I am pleased that the case for singing is put so strongly. How much stronger in faith singing congregations can be. How much stronger in faith are families and individuals who sing or listen to the songs and hymns they have sung in church on Sunday. And how much joy is evoked by the beauty and artistry of good music and poetry.

Sing! is not primarily for pastors and worship leaders. They don’t need convincing. A resource for all Christians Sing! will encourage all of us to sing more heartily. ( )